Monday, June 6, 2011

It's baby plover time!

One of the simple joys of early morning beach walking is watching the little piping plovers learn to feed and run from danger. The adult plovers will often try to lead a predator in the opposite direction from where the babies are and even the babies will split up and run.

Piping plovers are very well camouflaged and in the next few pictures you might want to click on them to enlarge them to find the babies. I have a zoom on my camera but it isn't a big one and you sort of have to keep your distance from these little guys so you don't spook them.

Look carefully here to see the mom heading right and two little chicks heading left--these are very little ones. So cute!

This chick is a little bigger and belongs to a different family. Probably hatched a few days sooner than the others.

There are 2 chicks in the picture above--and this gives you a really good idea about how well camouflaged they are and how difficult to see if you are a driver on the beach....

The good news is that a good number of chicks have already hatched on area beaches so far and as long as the weather remains somewhat reasonable they should grow well and be ready to fledge in good time so that all can share the beaches without too much complaint.

What to do about injured or stranded birds and animals? Please call one of these places

Art and Nature Classes have begun!

My art and nature classes for all ages are now listed online. You may sign up for one or as many as you'd like--for both adults and children. Beginners are always welcome, even in the outdoor watercolor classes. Please go to the Cape Cod Art and Nature Website for more specific information.

About Me

Thanks for stopping by to share my love of the beauty and nature of Cape Cod. I am an artist, writer, naturalist and educator. Everything interests me, everything is a possible subject for contemplation and learning. I write and illustrate several columns for local newspapers, teach classes, lead walks and do my own creative work as well.

Winter...

You can find some of my non nature essays on Open Salon

If you are missing my Weekly Nature Watch in the Enterprise....

Please write or call your local editor. The Region Section is no longer a separate part of the paper and each editor makes the call weekly as to whether my column goes in to their paper. I am lobbying to get the column posted online each week but please feel free to contact the paper on your own. When readers speak, editors listen.

Some of my recent articles In the Cape Codder and The Barnstable Patriot